Keanu Reeves says he is “the lonely guy” (updated)

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He was the hottest actor in Hollywood. The Matrix made him an icon. Then his career fizzled. Not that he stopped working – he appeared in two Matrix sequels and several forgettable potboilers.

But John Wick happened, and with Chapter 3 – Parabellum, which is getting rave reviews, the 54-year-old is back on top.

At his press conference at the Four Seasons New York in April, he is surprisingly cooperative, which wasn’t always the case. In previous interviews, he wouldn’t talk about his father who was in jail for cocaine possession, or about his stillborn child (with the late actress Jennifer Syme).

“I don’t feel I have any obligation to share my private life with people who enjoy my work,” was his rationale.

Reeves holds a Canadian passport, even though his mother is British, his father is of Chinese-Hawaiian parentage, and he was born in Lebanon. The name Keanu means “cool breeze over the mountains” in Hawaiian.

The family lived in Australia and New York before settling in Toronto where he spent his teen years. His mother designed costumes for Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. After her divorce from Reeves’ father, she married Paul Aaron, best known for directing A Different Story.

Reeves was 18 when he moved to Los Angeles and stayed with his stepfather. Eight months later, he landed the lead (and great reviews) for River’s Edge.

After that he worked with a series of top directors: Stephen Frears (Dangerous Liaisons), Ron Howard (Parenthood), Lawrence Kasdan (I Love You To Death), Gus Van Sant (My Own Private Idaho), Jon Amiel (Tune In Tomorrow) and Francis Ford Coppola (Bram Stoker’s Dracula).

He did Shakespeare, playing Antonio in Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing and portraying Hamlet in a theatre production in Winnipeg, Canada. Occasionally, he was the bassist for the indie band Dogstar until they disbanded in 2006.

Speed, opposite Sandra Bullock, was his breakthrough film. He turned down US$15mil for the sequel because “the movies I wanted to make were movies I wanted to see”.

Always a caring person, he gave the ancillary profits from The Matrix sequels to the crew. When asked about it, he became visibly angry. “I’d rather people didn’t know that. It was a private transaction. It was something I could afford to do, a worthwhile thing to do,” he said. It reportedly netted them over US$40mil.

Obviously The Matrix means a lot to you. How much like Neo are you?

He’s a better man than me, but I try to live up to his values.

Which of his qualities do you particularly admire?

He was a beautiful man to play. I thought his love for Trinity was so pure. I really identified with it. Also I loved his search for answers. He’s a strong positive, moral and ethical man, doing the best he can.

What does love mean to you?

You mean romantic love? You know, I’m the lonely guy. I don’t have anyone in my life. But if it does occur, I would respect and love the other person; hopefully it’ll happen for me.

You describe yourself as a lonely guy. Are you content with that?

I don’t concern myself with it that much. I’m an actor, so in terms of what you’re asking about, I have no answer.

Reeves is the new face of Saint Laurent.

You live in West Hollywood. Do people there respect your privacy? Can you walk around unnoticed?

My days are pretty normal. Of course there’s the tourist vans, they visit everybody’s homes. I come out in the morning and get my newspaper, and you’ll see them. Sometimes you feel like an animal in a cage. But in Los Angeles, no one cares. There’re definitely paparazzi chasing after you, but I don’t go out much, I don’t really do anything. I’m pretty boring.

You’re known for your passion for motorbikes (Reeves co-owns Arch Motorcycle Company in California). What do you like about it?

So much. I like the aesthetics of a motorcycle, and I love the vibration, the movement, the independence of it. I like the way that you move in the world on them. It’s quite thrilling to ride them, there’s a physical pleasure, and it’s a great place to think and to feel … or not to think or not to feel.

Was it your early ambition to be a rock star?

Not at all. I never wanted it. I loved the sound of the instrument and then the physicality of playing it, and it became really fun, when certain friends would play with me.

How old were you at the time?

I was 17 and I had an older girlfriend who turned me on to a lot of music. I had this car with these speakers in the back; she turned me on to bands like Joy Division, the Violent Femmes. We would get in the car, drink a little, do this or that, and I’d put the speakers on top of the car, and we’d go to a park and we’d dance.

Sandhya lourembam

Josie

josephine

I guess you enjoy being at home, not really as lonely person but that is where you find contentment in life. That is what my life revolves too and people think it is boring and sometimes I agree with them yet at the end of the day life is meaningful and fruitful because I did not wasted anything but consider I am still blessed being alone….

Reshma Ramlal

My humble Angel always looked up to u. Words can’t explain the person u r. Everything you’re saying I feel you. The part about romance is breathtaking, couldn’t answer it any better. I knew it, you’ll feel lonely it’s expected you are only human. This shows you still respect your wife❤. I call it emotionally num I kno this because I’m also like this. Bless you n continue smiling, love always frm Trinidad ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

D

I put it on one night recently and it hit me that there should’ve been a series of movies with his character where he infiltrates a heist/robbert ring in each movie, even if it was just two more movies after Point Break. A sequel could’ve been him infiltrating a group of modern day trainrobbers then a third movie where he infilrates a diamond heist ring.

On loneliness – be with someone only if it hits you and her. Don’t force it. Sometimes you find her and vice versa.

Ange Marie Costantini

Mon chouchou Keanu let’s get together to have a fun day, spend our time doing outdoor various things and you wouldn’t want the day to end. I am sure after that I could become your best friend for life, let’s not waste time which is precious and get in touch with me. Forgive me for any writing mistakes but!

Valerie

Jessica Bayes

Keanu is a uniquely and genuinely wonderful person whom I could only wish too meet. There is no one like him. He has many traits I admire. I truly hope he finds what and who may complete his life and heart. No one deserves that more then him.
Sincerely… Jessica xx